CLADDAGH  SET
         © 2008   Larry E. Taylor

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    This set is from Claddagh, Connemara, County Galway, Ireland.
    Gents dance forward on the left foot and ladies begin forward on the right foot.
    Bar counts (quantities of measures) for patterns are shown in bold.
    The total bar count for each Figure includes an eight-bar introduction of music.
    First side couple is on the right of first top couple.
    All the swings are in waltz hold.
    Documentation is based upon a workshop taught by Tony Ryan in May 2004
              at Toronto, Canada.
    Edition of October 15, 2006 Contact larryetaylor@hotmail.com 
 
    FIGURE 1 -- REELS (192 BARS)
Dance an ordinary reel step (lift-2-3-4).
All couples: lead around anticlockwise holding crossed-hands (rights on top)6;
          reverse direction (no arch)2; lead around to home6; ladies face
          into the set and gents face out of the set2;
swing in waltz hold8.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER"  first top gent and second top lady dance a clockwise, no-touch
          circle around one another, ending with backs to home positions8;
swing in waltz hold in the center8;

still holding high hands (gent’s left, lady’s right) as they step back, take

          partner’s hand (gent takes her right, lady takes his left) and the four
          advance and retire once(drop high hands on retire)4;
          advance and retire again, with crossed hands4;
house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady
          clockwise to a sweetheart hold4; lead around to home and turn
          the lady anticlockwise to place4;
swing in waltz hold8.
All couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   with first side gent / second side lady, second top
          gent / first top lady, then second side gent / first side lady
          leading -- except all couples swing finally120.
    FIGURE 2 -- REELS (184 BARS)
Dance an ordinary reel step (lift-2-3-4).
All couples: advance and retire twice, holding crossed-hands in front (rights on top)8;
swing in waltz hold8.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER"  ladies chainafter taking right hands in the center, each lady turns clockwise
          under the opposite gent's left arm as she dances around  him; the gent
          raises his arm and moves forward as the lady passes behind him but
          he does not turn; the gent retires as the lady starts to home; ladies do
          not chain on the way home; each lady turns anticlockwise under her
          own partner's right arm to-place8;
house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady clockwise
          to a sweetheart hold (holding right hands at the lady's right shoulder and
          left hands in front)4; lead around to home and turn the lady anticlockwise
          to-place4;
swing in waltz hold8.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   24.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER"REPEAT "MARKER" gents pinwheel with the right hand4; pinwheel with the left hand and keep
          lefts in the center and take open waltz hold (right arm at the lady's waist)
          with partner4;
lead around anticlockwise8; 
          still in open waltz hold, advance and retire once4;
          advance again2; form a circle-of-four with the ladies’ hands on the gents’
          shoulders and look into the well (all lower heads and look toward
          the floor)2;
little Christmas8;
ladies chain as above8;
house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady clockwise
          to a sweetheart hold4; lead around to home and turn the lady
          anticlockwise to place4;
swing in waltz hold8
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"REPEAT "MARKER"    except all four couples swing finally56.
    FIGURE 3 -- REELS (152 BARS)
Dance an ordinary reel step (lift-2-3-4).
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady clockwise
          to a sweetheart hold4; lead around to home and turn the lady
          anticlockwise to place4;
swing in waltz hold8.
All ladies: pinwheel clockwise with the right hand3; reverse direction and change hands1;
          pinwheel anticlockwise with the left hand then give right hand to original
          partner and turn anticlockwise under his right arm to-place4.
All gents: pinwheel with the left hand4; pinwheel with the right hand then give left hand to
          partner and turn her clockwise under his left arm as both dance to-place4.
All couples: house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady clockwise
          a sweetheart hold4; lead around to home and turn the lady anticlockwise
          to place4;
swing in waltz hold8.
     The Cross Chain is next.
Top ladies: REPEAT "MARKER" chain with the right hands three-quarters around to the gent originally on each
          lady’s left; while the ladies chain in the center, the side gents turn clockwise

          once in-place4; chain with the left hand around the side gent (as above, the

          gent raises his left arm and moves forward as the lady passes behind him
          but he does not turn); cross to the other side gent, touching right hands
          with the other lady (high-five)4.
Side ladies: during the eight bars above :  advance and retire once with the top gent on their
          respective right4; cross on the inside of the set, ending beside (facing) the
          top gent on their respective right while the top gents turn clockwise
          once in-place4.
All couples: swing in waltz hold as new partners8;
repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"   with top ladies, then side ladies, then side ladies again
          beginning the chain48;
take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice8;
house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady clockwise
          to a sweetheart hold4; lead around to home and turn the lady
          anticlockwise to place4;
swing in waltz hold8.
    FIGURE 4 -- JIGS (192 BARS)   
Dance an ordinary jig step (down-2-3).
All couples: take hands in a circle and advance and retire twice (1-2-3-kick; 1-2-123)8;
chain to opposite (gents anticlockwise, ladies clockwise)6; take right hand in
          right and turn the lady under anticlockwise2; continue the chain to home6;
          partners dance-out facing one another, without touching2.
swing in waltz hold8.
Top couples: REPEAT "MARKER" advance and retire once, right hand in right4;
as both couples advance again, second top couple form an arch and first top
          couple crosses under, turning-the-lady-under once before going under the
          arch and once more to-place; the arching couple dance to-place at
          opposite with the gent turning the lady anticlockwise as he dances
          outside her4;
repeat the four lines above but with first top couple forming the first arch8.
house to opposite, with crossed-hands, turning twice, and turn the lady clockwise
          to a sweetheart hold4; lead around to home and turn the lady
          anticlockwise to place4;
swing in waltz hold8.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    32.
Top couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    with first top  forming the first arch32.
Side couples: repeat from   REPEAT "MARKER"    with first side forming the first arch32.
All couples: chain to opposite (gents anticlockwise, ladies clockwise)6; take right hand in right
          and turn the lady under anticlockwise2; continue the chain to home6;
          partners dance-out facing one another, without touching2.
swing in waltz hold8.

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